Electric switch.



I. II. IIII'SBY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22. m13,

1,228,052 Patented May 29, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1. H. RUSBY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICAHONHLHED MAY g2. 1913.

1,228,052, Patented' May 29, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOSELH H. RUSBY, OF NUTLEY', NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH..

.Laaacaa Application led yMay 22, 1913. Serial No. 769,199. i

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrri H. Roser, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nutley, county of Essex, and State of N ew Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention lrelates particularly to that class of electric switches which are operated by push-buttons to snap the blades into positive engagement with the Contact devices. The obj ect of the invention is to secure severa-l novel features over the present art necessary to the production of a high grade switch, as for instance universal adjustment and standard dimensions, high electrical efficiency, mechanical strength and smoothness of operation, long operating life, and low producing cost.

In the flush type of electric switch im portant advantages have been secured by the particular construction of standard over all dimensions, adapted to accommodate all standard supporting fittings including' cover plates, while possessing universal adjustment after securing to a supporting surface'.

-Universal adjustment requires three directions of movement viz: longitudinally, laterally of the switch, and to and from the supporting surface. This universal adjustment is secured by providing a basic body of non-absorptive, non-inflammable, Inechanically strong material for the support of l the actuating mechanism, contacts, vand supporting Wall lugs which are movably mounted upon adjusting screws. This insulated support may be provided with anl armoring shell which may be formed of a singlepiece of sheet metal which may constitute a support for the adjusting screws if desired.

The novel features of the invention are moreI fully described in the following specication and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a flush type of electricswitch embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section along the line t t of the same.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line u u of the same.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along 'the line o o of the same.

Fig. 5 is a .section along the line w w of -the same.

porting lug.

Fig. .6 shows a side elevation of a make and break mechanism.

Fig. 7 1s a perspective view of a wail sup- Fig. 8 is a tent.

F ig. 9 is a front'view of the blades.

Fig: l0 is a perspective View of a lug carrier piece.

Fig. .ll is a similar view of a contact 4device. Figs. l2 and 13 are detail sections of modifications showing the adjustable lugs and' block. v

Fig. 13a is a detail front view of Fig. l2 showing the cover removed.

Fig. lat is a front elevation of a surface type of electric switch sl'lpwing the cover moved.l

Fig. l5 is a vertical section along the line m w of the same.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section along the line z/ g/ of the same.

Fig. i? is a similar section taken along the line a of Fig. li.

Fig. i8 is a rear. View of an insulated support.

Fig. 19 is a front elevation of one of the insulated supports.

Fig. 20 is a detail side elevation of the blades. j

Fig. 2l is a side elevation of a make and break' mechanism the blades havingibeen 'removed. p

Fig. 22 is a detail view of a push button.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a modilied form of carrier piece.

perspective view of alatch de In these drawings the letter a designates an insulating supporting block preferably formed of porcelain with an open rear portion b having dome shaped interior cham-' bers c the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. An armoring shell d is fitted to the exterior of the block and. by channeling the ends of the block and bending the sheet at eit will fit into the channels, this shell may be bent from one piece of sheet metal with minimum of waste and when slipped over the block will conform tightly without springing taway. The shell `has projecting wings or lugs f which serve. as supports for adjusting screws g each screw being located at the top and bottom ofthe block. and housed in the channels oi.l the block. By having the shanks of the adjusting screws housed in the block it shortens the total length of the block in the wall receptacle for longitudinal movement and the conductors. Mounted on each of these adjusting screws is a lug 7L and these lugs by their 'particular form, provide distinct advantages over previous ones, where a switch possess* ing universal adjustment is desired.` The lugs are bent forward Jfrom the main stock at z' 'for cooperation with wall supporting screws, and backward at and 7c top and bottom respectively, these backward bends form strong mountings. tor the yadjusting screw g and the top backward bend forming clearance for a cover securing support as well as a wall securing support.

lVhere a cheaper Jform of adjustment is desired it can readily be provided by hinginga plain lug m upon a top strap-by means of a post or inverted screw n as shown in Figs. l2 and 13a wherein the post forms a swivel hinge for mounting the lug on a strap and the rpost may also serve as a mounting for a base closure plate q or the projection on the bottom of the switch for supporting` the screw oi* the post end, may be formed integral withthe switch body, as for instance a lug of porcelain body block. 0r the post or screw g need not be .dependent upon even a top strap but be formed with a proj ection on the switch body top and another on the bottom place Q for the. screw. support, the lug 7L is mounted on the screw and the screw top is tapped for a cover securing screw 1' as indicated in Fig. 13 or this lugmounting may enter the lug from below as shown. in (Fig. 127 jthe lug hinging upon the upper screw or post end.

The make and break operating` mechanism includes a pair' of push buttons 25 having shanks pivoted at 26 toa spring actuating lever piece 27 mounted on a pivot bolt 28.. The said bolt is supported in al 'frame 29 the front portion of which is adapted to be fas tened by means of a screw 30 to the upper portion of the interior ol the block. A lug piece 31 is mounted on the pivot bolt 28 and it has connected to it a set of blades 32. Hard fiber or mica 33 insulates the blades from the remainder of the mechanism. A spring 34 is coiled about a drum 35, and this drum is mounted on a. hollow spindle 39 fixed tothe lever piece 27 noted above. A latch detent is provided with a lug and it is pivoted at 37 to the support and this latch is connected at 3S to the shank of one of the push buttons. rlhe lug of the detent coacts with one or the other oi' the edges formed on the rim of the lug piece 31 mentioned above.

The lever piece 27 has a cross arm and the blade carrier 3l has a similar arm extending between the shanks of the coiled spring. The lever `piece 27 is operated by the push buttons and the carrier 3l actuates the blades to snap into or out of engagement with the contact devices.

by the connecting posts fn, or adjusting screws g through insulating of mechanism is secured so that if .the blade insulation breaks down, no grounding of current 'may occur thereby'.

By designing the insulating'block a in the form of an inverted receptacle, closed at top or face, upon the. outside of which face the conductor contacts 40 are supported, and chambered out on under side for reception of the working mechanism, the contacts connecting with the blades through closed apei tures in the insulating block body and the lower chamber closed by closure plate g, the break arc is entirely confined inside the switch.

By locating the common swing center pivot'28 low down in switch chamber, the conductor contacts e3, for one end of the blade will be above the blade end in the chamber, and the conductor contacts 44: for the other end of the blade'will be located below the blade end in lower part of the chamber. This arrangement of blades, contacts and binding screws, provides a very high electrical eiliciency. The blade end can be split as indicated in Fig. 9 and contact plain or vice versa.

if tu,

By the method shown of Jormingiind securing the conductor contacts il an advantage is obtained; for by mounting the contact'plate 40 upon a shouldered post 42 as for instance by riveting, a rigid right angle of contact and vpost may be secured with a thin rivet neck thus clearing the binding screw head. By separating 'the contact slightly above insulating block surface, as for instance by forming a ridge on Contact,

post, or insulation about the post, and draw ing the contact down to its place in a seat in the insulating block, then securing means on rlower end of post, as for instance a nut, seated into the insulating block, a' true and rigid alinement of contact is secured. This method is not limited to the inverted block form as shown, but is as applicable to switches of open top form. l

rThe conductor contacts 40 may be formed ot' heavieii metal to provide current capacity and stock for ample binding screw tl'ireads, while the blade contact portions and l may be formed of thinner metal of high coi'i/rluctivity such as hard drawn copper and secured -upon the main contact as shown,

thus olwiating the need of springing the head.

meente the `bottom oi' the insulating hloclr, see Fig.

2', perfect and rigid alineinent and support is obtained. v

The top securing screw for this supporting frame may be locked as indicated. in Fig. 4, after screwing home, hy setting an 'edge of the head into the corresponding seat inthe insulating block a under the screw By employing the main swing center pivot v28 as a supporting means for the blade,and

locating the other needed blade fastening devices above this center, the field is cleared below the center, and no space is required there which would add depth to the switch. This form oi? blade 32 can he punched out from the sheet a singleway of vthe grain providing strength to bent portions.

By locating the latch 36 as far to one side of the switch as practically expedient and shouldering down the spring drum and hollow spindle 39 to small diameter immediately under the latch, ample swing room is secured for the latch, and then, byv increasing'the diameter of the spring supporting drum aside of the latchswing space, room is provided for a spring 34 of very much larger diameter` and size than any hitherto secured, y

By consti"ucting the spring drum 35 of 'drawn sheet and mounting upon the hollow :spindle 39 which spindle also carries the'le- 'verpiece 27 a simplificationis effected Vand a reduction of metal weight, also a ready means of confining the operating-,spring by turning back a lug upon the wall of the drum. As indicated in Fig. 17 the pivot bolt 28 has pointed ends bearing against the porcelain sides of the insulated block preventing longitudinal play of the pivot and designed to form a pivot point with an insignicant degree of 4friction on the point.`

By forming the push button Shanks with divided ends as shown in Fig. 22 a 'double support is formed for the rivet pin 26 thus strength. y

A compact form of this switch'isy shown in the surface type modiiications l'wherein a push button switch is providedgadaptedjo bexxnerely secured upon a wall lsurface as the 'present rotary surface snap switch is secured though this type may be adjustahly' mounted into-wall receptacles. .As shown in Fig. 17 the'means foi adjusting the-switch con sist's--of screws 46 coperating with a slot 47 formed into the insulated block a. The adjusting screw 46 has an' angular headwith a tapped portion 'arranged in the slot and a V shoulder to bear against the rear portion of 'the block, a screw de' is adapted to clamp the -screw i6 to the block. Bya'djusting the screw i3 theswitch may be turned around or rotated on the screw heads within the limits of the slots to lline the lpush buttons.

By extending the insulating base a of the switch through the bottom oi the armo'ring shell as shown at 49 and seating the switch upon this insulating base, a space lfor air insulation is provided between armoring shell and wall postin`case the blade insulation breaks down and also prevents shifting of the insulating base a in the' shell.'

By turning in the lugs 5l on the armoring I shell top 4jupon the seats in the insulating base, this hase is securely clamped into shell, regardless of any additional securing means.

By extending the ends'of the flexible shell lining .insulation under these turned-in lugs before the lugs are-turned, the lugs also se-v curethe leXible insulation 50 into place.

The turning in of theselugs on armoring shell l also provides seats for tru'inglugs on a cover plate 52, preventing any shifting of cover plate which might bind the push but= tons 25 and prevent `freedomV of action.

The sheet insulation 50 provides separation of the Contact piece from the shell.

The Jframe lugs 29 as indicated in Fig.` 17 for inclosing the push buttons, prevent the swing Aof the metal lhutton Shanks over against the live metal parts such as contacts.

z The riveting oleaible yspring contacts 43 as shown in Fig. 16 upon the conductor contacts 40 economizes space and provides electrical conductivity.

By forming the blade carrier in two parts as shown in Fig. 23, great strength and rigidity` are obtained, while the latching lug 31 is braced to great mechanical stiffness. By bending in the endsof this lug 31 of the blade carrier, they can he formed to clear the blade by. ample insulating space, and at the same time torni stops against the shell bottom.

By shouldering the inside pivot 28 upon whichv these blade carriers 31 and B9 are mounted, with double riveting shoulders, the

carrier can be riveted upon the rvrst one and4 the remaining one may ,ornrga securing saving\ switch depth space and adding* rivet support for the blade, thereby .serving as-a preventive of longitudinalplay as noted previouslylI f The elongated screw .slots 47injthe insulatinghody a allows rotary adjustmentof switch: `for correct"'alinementy "r l. An electric switch comprising'xan insulating supporting block, an adjusting` Iscreivl and a wallsupporting lug-,.`saidlug y formed of 'a main stock, extending parallel f with said adjusting lscrew, a portion bent forward vfrom said mainl stock, said forward extending portion slotted to receive wall securing means, a portion having a threaded hole and bent backward from the base of said main stock, and a second portion having a threaded hole and bent backward from said main stock, above said iirst backwardly bent portion, said adjusting screw threaded through said threaded holes for adjustably mounting a4said lug upon said adj usting screw.

2. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block, an adjusting screw, and a supporting'lug, said lug adjustably hinged upon said adjusting screw and having a main body extending parallel with said adjusting screw, said main body curved laterally away from said adjusting screw to j provide swing room.

3. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block, a wall securing means, conductor contacts, and an operating mechanism, said mechanism including a base, a supporting stud on the base, an operating lever piece movably mounted on the stud, and a tubular member carried by the lever piece for mounting a spring.

4. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block, an overhanging projection on the face of said block, said projection having a hole for a cover securing device, a post supported on said switch, a switch supporting lug swingingly mounted on said post, said lug being slotted to coact with a wall securing device and to provide clearance for said cover securing device.

5. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block, a strap on the face of said block, a base plate on the back of said block, connecting posts for mounting said strap and back plate upon said block and an adjustable supporting lug hinged upon said strap by said connecting post.

6. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block, a strap on the face of said block having an overhanging end, an adjusting screw extending through said strap, an adjustable wall lug threaded upon the adjusting screw, a tapped hole in the overhanging end of strap for cover securing means, the 'said adjustable lug slotted to clear said cover securingmeans and said overhanging strap end and to vreceive wall securing means.

7. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block, a strap on the face oi said block having an overhanging end, a supporting post extending from said strap, an adjustable wall"'1ug hinged upon said post, a tapped hole in the overhanging strap end, for cover securing means, the said adjustable lug slotted to clear said cover securing means and to receive Wall securing means.

8. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block having an adjusting screw and a switch supporting lug, said lug having ya plurality of supports for 'coperation 'with said screw.

9. An electric switch comprising a supporting block, an overhanging strap on the face of said block, an adjusting screw eX tending through said strap, an adjusting lug threaded upon said screw, a hole in the overhanging end of strap for the cover securing means, the said adjusting lug slotted to clear said overhanging strap, and to receive support securing means.

10. An electric switch comprising a supporting block, said block end channeled from face toward back, a projection on the face of said block and another projection on the back'of said block, said projections overhanging said channel, an adjusting screw rotatably-supported between said projections and extending in said channel longitudinally thereof, and a supporting lug adjustably supported upon said screw.

11. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block having a chamber, a contact blade insaid chamber, said blade being formed of a central stem portion for securing the said blade upon a mounting support, branching contact arms extending from opposite 'sides of the central stem, contacts in said chamber located above and below the blade contact arm.

12. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block having a wall and a chamber adjacent the wall, a con ductor contact seated on the face of the block on the wall, and conductor means eX- tended from the contact through the wall into the chamber. 1

13. An `electric switch comprising an insulating supporting .block having a seat on its face and a hole extending from said seat toward the back of said block, a post in said hole, a conductor contact mounted upon said post and seated in said seat, and a device at back of said block'for securing said post.

14. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block having a hole eX tending vertically through the block, and providedwith a recess at the upper end of the hole, a o st arranged in the hole, a contact locate 1n the recess and .secured to the post, and a device at the lower end of lthe post'I for retaining the contact in the recess.

15. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block having a domed chamber located in the block with an insulatingwall forming the top of the chamber, said wall having a depression, a. contact device arranged on the wall, a binding screw threadedy to engage the contact and project into the depression.

16. An electric switch comprising an insulating supporting block having a chamber, a contact blade in said chamber, a consulating supporting block, a chamber .in y

said block, and conductor contacts in said chamber said conductor contacts being the only permanently fixed conductors 1n said chamber 18. An electric switch comprising an n- 'sulating' supporting block, said block having a countersunk hole, a seat in said countersink, a screw in said hole and the screw head adapted to be set into said seat to prevent turning. k

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.`

. g JOSEPH H. RUSBY. Witnesses: l

E. WARLAND, CHRISTIAN H. ALMSTAEDT. 

